THIS is the moment serial pest Billy the Pigeon was trapped by his own poster.

The 34-year-old – real name William Armstrong – has been dubbed Tyneside’s most prolific thief because of his 12-year crooked career.

His persistent pilfering led to him being hit with an Asbo, banning him from Newcastle city centre for two years.

Posters of Armstrong were distributed around the city and pinned up in shops he has plagued.

And that meant that when he entered the One Stop News store, on the city’s Grainger Street, staff immediately recognised him when he approached the till.

CCTV footage taken from the shop shows Billy enter the shop and shows the worker with the poster featuring his face in front of her.

And as soon as she glanced up, she spotted him looking back at her and immediately rang police.

That led to Billy, of Sceptre Place, Elswick, being convicted of breaching his Asbo at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court.

And police today urged the public to continue shopping him if they spot him in the city centre.

Neighbourhood Sgt Paul Hamilton said: “Billy is a prolific offender and serial pest in the city centre.

“His anti-social behaviour order means more and more people, particularly businesses, are well aware of who he is and ensure any sightings in the city centre are reported to police.

“He has caused misery for shoppers and traders over the years and his Asbo means he is banned from going into the city centre.

“On this occasion, he was spotted by a shop worker who recognised him as his Asbo poster was up behind the till.

“The fact he’s been before the courts a number of times during the year for breaching his Asbo shows we’re acting quickly to get him punished appropriately.

“As a result, he’s spent many months behind bars when he might otherwise have been out on the streets committing crime.

“Our main aim is to make sure the city centre is a safe and enjoyable place for people to come at all times of day.

“We will continue to work with our partners to take positive action against menaces such as Armstrong.”

Armstrong’s criminal CV dates back to 1996 and since then, he has been in and out of jail for theft. He has committed more than 220 crimes, 167 of which have been theft.

Dubbed Billy the Pigeon in Tyneside’s underworld, it was rumoured he earned his moniker because he is a crook who feeds off scraps. But in court Armstrong said that he is actually named after his father, who was also called William and kept pigeons.

Billy Jnr took on the nickname himself and made it infamous through his 12-year crime spree.

In May 2007, he stooped to a new low when he wandered into Newcastle’s St Mary’s Cathedral and stole the car keys of Eucharistic minister Margaret Howe, before fleeing in her car.

He was ordered to serve a consecutive sentence totaling 90 days in prison – 45 days for the car theft and 45 days for stealing a PlayStation3 games console from the Brighthouse store on Shields Road, Byker.

He got his latest Asbo in February last year but has already breached it eight times.

He has also landed himself in court over two offences of fraud by false representation.

They related to forged prescriptions he obtained after being in hospital with a broken arm he sustained while playing in the snow.

One of the prescriptions was adapted so he could get more of a particular drug, while the other was completely bogus and had been created in his own handwriting.